of 2011, into law and supported by republicans. and the way that works is the president would have the obligation periodically to request an increase in the debt limit, and congress would have the chance then to express its views on the merits of that proposal by disapproving that, and then the president would have to decide if a bill came to his desk about whether to veto or sign it. and the virtue of that mechanism proposed by senator mcconnell, a man of impeccable conservative credentials, is to make sure that the country is not left at risk of pure default. it's a very good idea. it's a republican idea. and we're suggesting they extend it. >> let me come back to the idea of, what is the pain point for democrats here? what is the pain that democrats are going to have to be willing to live with to get the kind of deal that you're driving with republicans on taxes when it comes to both spending cuts, particularly spending cuts to programs like medicare? >> well, i think that it's true that both sides are going to have to do things that are difficult for them, uncomfortable for the
